Nick Thornicroft, the forgotten man of Yorkshire cricket, helped save his side from a caning by the Loughborough University students when claiming career-best figures of six for 60 at Headingley Carnegie today.

But in a breathtaking finish it was Steve Patterson who brought Yorkshire a thrilling victory by one run when bowling the last two batsmen with the final two possible balls of the match.

Two early second-innings wickets for York-born Thornicroft and four when the final hour had been called and Yorkshire were in danger of losing dramatically turned the tables on their youthful opponents.

It is five years since 22-year-old Thornicroft made his Yorkshire debut and until this game he had played in only six first-team matches - but he was the second XI's leading wicket-taker last season and could still have a successful career ahead of him.

After the first two days had been spoiled by bad weather, the game developed into an absorbing contest after some tinkering in the morning when Loughborough declared their first innings on 93 for three and Yorkshire forfeited, so setting their opponents a target of 291 in the final two sessions.

Loughborough were soon struggling as Thornicroft had Richard Malcolm lbw in his first over and in his second Ed Foster pulled him to David Wainwright at mid-wicket.

But Loughborough showed their stomach for a fight with a fourth-wicket stand of 136 in 30 overs between Surrey's Chris Murtagh and Will Gifford of Worcestershire and, when the last 20 overs were called, only a further 95 were required.

Thornicroft was immediately brought back and bowled Gifford for 71 off 76 balls, before having Arun Harinath caught at cover, but Murtagh completed a maiden first-class century off 174 balls.

He then clipped former Loughborough UCCE all-rounder Wainwright to Andrew Gale at mid-wicket but Loughborough ploughed gamely on, despite Thornicroft picking up two more wickets as the tension heightened.

Ten were required off the final over from Patterson, which began with Loughborough on 281 for eight, and eight from the first four deliveries left Yorkshire staring defeat in the face with just two wanted and two balls remaining.

But Patterson kept his nerve by yorking both Steven Wheeler and last man Tom Parsons to preserve Yorkshire's unbeaten record in first-class cricket this season, although this was their first team in name only.

YORKSHIRE PHOENIX will be looking to renew their challenge for a top-two place in the North Conference of the Friends Provident Trophy when they take on Lancashire Lightning at Old Trafford on Sunday.

They suffered their only defeat of the season in any competition at the hands of Leicestershire Foxes and then had to share the points with Worcestershire Royals in last Sunday's rain-wrecked match.

Although Lancashire have won only one of their four matches in the competition and have made a generally poor start to the season, Yorkshire director of cricket Martyn Moxon stressed that the Tykes would not be taking them for granted.

"They are always dangerous because of the considerable talent they have got in their side and any sort of Roses match is still very special," he said.

With Gerard Brophy still not fully recovered from severe bruising to his right hand, Simon Guy retains his place behind the stumps.

Yorkshire will wait until shortly before the toss before deciding whether to play fast bowler Deon Kruis, who has now recovered from his hamstring strain and is included in the 13-strong squad.

Lancashire will have all-rounder Andrew Flintoff in their squad after he was released by England to play as a batsman only.

Flintoff was ruled out of the ongoing first Test against the West Indies at Lord's with an ankle injury after failing a late fitness check.

Yorkshire Phoenix (from): White, Rudolph, McGrath, Younus Khan, Gale, Rashid, Pyrah, Bresnan, Guy, Gough, Gillespie, Kruis, Ajmal Shahzad.